DAY 1
Road transfer from Royal Tree Lodge to Maun Airport. Fly into Kalahari Plains Airstrip from Maun Airport with Super Sande.
On arrival, you guide will transfer your baggage to your private vehicle and set off for a slow meander/game drive to familiarise yourselves with the area and then into your dune-top camp at Sunday Pan.
Deception hosts huge herds of gemsbuck, springbuck, wildebeest and hartebeest attracted to the area by the flush of sweet grasses that flourish in the ancient valley following the rains. There is also a good chance of seeing the Kalahari lion, cheetah, brown hyenas and meerkat.
The area is well known from the writings of Mark and Delia Owens who undertook an eight year research programme into the desert predator ecology of the valley.
As such, their book, the ‘Cry of the Kalahari’ makes essential reading for anyone undertaking a trip to this little known and remote part of Botswana.
The bird life in the reserve is diverse, with over 220 species recorded to date. There are significant healthy populations of regionally threatened species, like Kori Bustard and Lappet-faced Vulture. Birders will particularly enjoy the opportunity to see a variety of arid-west endemic species such as Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Grey-backed Sparrow lark, Kalahari Scrub-Robin and African Wren-Warbler. The vivid colors of birds such as Crimson-breasted Shrike and Violet-eared Waxbill often provide a startling contrast to the sometimes stark surroundings and incredible photographic opportunities.
Finally, there is no better place in Africa to see Pale Chanting Goshawk and Northern Black Korhaan, which seem to occur around every corner.
Arrive in good time to shower and unpack before an explanation of the formation of the Kalahari Valley and the transporting sight of an incredible sunset.
DAY 2
An early start and a drive up to Leopard pan in the cool morning air. Watch honey badgers, jackal and look out for elusive predators. Lions and cheetah are around and there has recently been the discovery of a population of wild dogs in this peaceful and isolated wilderness area. Back to camp for a sumptuous lunch. The afternoon is spent out, then its back to camp and an early night to prepare for tomorrow’s day at the watering hole.
DAY 3
Enjoy your breakfast in the beautiful morning light, and then set off with your guide for or a full day of exciting water-hole action at Letiahau waterhole. Be sure to bring your binoculars and cameras, as there is a strong possibility of seeing some exciting predator, prey interaction and watching the dramas unfold.
Then spend another day exploring piper pan and the more southern region of the Central Kalahari. After a long but exciting day, make your way back to camp for sundowners’ and hearty dinner around the campfire, chatting about today’s excitements.
DAY 4
Enjoy your breakfast in the beautiful morning light, and then set off with your guide for or a full day of exciting water-hole action at Letiahau waterhole. Be sure to bring your binoculars and cameras, as there is a strong possibility of seeing some exciting predator, prey interaction and watching the dramas unfold.
Then spend another day exploring piper pan and the more southern region of the Central Kalahari. After a long but exciting day, make your way back to camp for sundowners’ and hearty dinner around the campfire, chatting about today’s excitements.
DAY 5
After a sumptuous breakfast at Camp, pack your bags and get ready for a day exploring the area while the Camp team move your accommodation to another site at Deception Valley. Your guide will take you to explore Passage Valley, Phokoje Pan and Sunday Pan along the way.
Armed with packed lunch, you will look for predators and prey and an in-depth immersion into the Kalahari ecology and wildlife including behavioural observations of cunningly desert-adapted mammals and birds.
Arrive at your new site for a delicious dinner and a cosy evening under canvas.
DAY 6
Wake up to a brand new area of Deception Valley. A drive into the stabilised dune area reveals the floral and faunal variations between the valley and dune ecologies.
Sprawling acacia forest cedes to thick dune grasses and hardy bushes. Fleeting herds of gemsbuck, the elusive Kalahari giraffe and the ever-present steenbok keep us company.
The scenery is unlike any you will have experienced and a biological experience sure to exceed your expectations.
DAY 7
Spend all of day today out looking for game at Deception Valley Day Pan, which is known for the game congregating here. This was the campsite of the unorthodox Owens during their research, and where their book “The Cry of the Kalahari” was written.
Deception Valley Pan is all that remains of an ancient riverbed, which today is an 80km-long gentle valley floor covered with short palatable grasses interspersed with picturesque tree islands.
The name ‘Deception’ is derived from the mirage effect caused by the dry surface of the pan halfway along its length which often appears misleadingly full of water.
Healthy game populations move seasonally between dune and valley. During the rainy summer months the northern part of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Botswana.
The abundance of predators and their prey is perfectly complemented with lush green landscapes, floral displays and beautiful skies.
At this time of year these verdant flatlands are alive with aggregations of gemsbok,
springbok and blue wildebeest. These aggregations of herbivores on the fossil riverbeds result in unusually high predator concentrations: with both Kalahari black-maned lions and cheetah featuring heavily in guest experiences, Wild dog and one of the best places to see honey badgers.
Enjoy your last night out under the stars
DAY 8
Morning breakfast. Drive to the Deception Valley Airstrip, where you will be collected by private charter and continue to Maun Airport.
